Golf ball retriever



June 9, 1964 R. J. HARKE GOLF BALL RETRIEVER Filed April 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fl 6. 4 .55 n 38 34 4O 5 .1 3 l Q 42 l 50 '//////lllm 36 W W B v INVENTOR:

' 50 RAYMOND J. HARKE W MW 7 wz i ATT'Y June 9, 1964 R. J. HARKE 3,136,573

' GOLF BALL RETRIEVER Filed April 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8 '6 Q J I I6 i .8 4 I t 4 3O 24 34 2s 's a r n Ill 1 /l/l so 36 I INVENTOR: RAYMOND J. HARKE BY? ATT'Y United rates Patent 3,136,573 GULF BALL RETRIEVER Raymond J. Harke, 5505 W. Potomac Ave, hicago 51, Ill. Filed Apr. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 1%,061 2 Claims. ((11. 294-1) The improved retriever comprising the present invention has been designed for use primarily in connection with the retrieving of golf balls from water, ravines, traps, holes, rough and similar hazards. The invention is, however, capable of other uses, and a retriever embodying the principles of the invention may be employed for. retrieving other spherical objects from inaccessible places. Irrespective, however, of the particular use to which the invention may be put, the essential features thereof remain substantially the same.

It is among the principal objects of the invention to provide a golf ball retriever which is of a convertible nature and may be conditioned for use on soft terrain as a scoop or on hard terrain as a gripping device, or which, alternatively, may be conditioned as a gripping device for so-called shagging a ball from a golf cup or other deep narrow void having confining walls which render the ball relatively inaccessible.

Briefly, the invention contemplates the provision of a retriever proper in the form of an open-ended cylindrical tube having an internal diameter slightly larger than the diameter of a standard golf ball. One end of the tube is fitted with a resilient ferrule which is attached to the adjacent rim of the tube and has an internal diameter slightly less than the diameter of a standard golf ball. A ball may enter one end of the tube freely and it may enter the other end after displacing the ferrule, or in other words, after being pushed through the ferrule. A bail is pivoted to the cylindrical tube at diametrically disposed points medially between the ends of the tube and the spread of the bail is such that the tube may be rotated in end-over-end fashion within the confines of the bail. vAt the end of the tube remote from the ferrule, detent means are provided for cooperation with the bail arms so that the tube may be releasably but securely held in a position wherein its axis lies in the plane of the bail. Restraining means are provided for preventing the hail from free movement into cooperation with the detent means in either swinging direction of the bail and tube relatively to each other. The bight portion of the bail is fixedly connected to an elongated manipulating handle which preferably is of the telescopic, extensible and contractible type.

When the detent means is ineffective, the tube is capable of swinging movement within the confines of the bail throughout a large-sized arc with the ferrule-equipped end of the tube available for placement over a golf ball resting on hard terrain so that, utilizing the terrain as a reaction surface, the ball may be pushedinto the tube through the yieldable ferrule. Also, with the detent means ineffective, the tube is available as a scoop at a wide variety of angles for scooping the ball into the tube through the free end thereof. When the detent means is eifective, the tube and handle are maintained in axial alignment in order that the tube may be lowered into a cup without binding against the wall thereof to the end that the ball may be pushed throughthe ferrule and into the tube, or in other words, shagged for retrieving purposes. With the detent means ineffective, the pivotal connection between the tube and bail will cause the tube, with the captured ball therein, to seat on the ferrule and the tube to swing automatically to a vertical position during taking-in" of the tube and ball. With the detent means etfective, the bight portion of the bail obstructs ice the free end of the tube so that the captured ball cannot leave the tube throughout the free end thereof regardless of the position of the tube and even though the tube be inverted.

. The provisionof a golf ball retriever of the character briefly outlined above being among the general objects of the invention, it is a specific object to provide such a retriever wherein the ferrule is capable of being easily installed upon and removed from the tube for replacement purposes in the event that it becomes worn or otherwise damaged The provision of a golf ball retriever which is simple in its construction and, therefore, may be manufactured at a low cost; one which is comprised of a minimum number of relatively movable parts and, therefore, is unlikely to get out of order; one which is rugged and durable and will, therefore, withstand rough usage; one which, when the operating hande is telescoped, is capable of fitting into a conventional golf bag; one which is attractive in its appearance and pleasing in its design, are further desirable features which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention not at this time enumerated will become readily apparent as the following description ensues.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been shown.

In these drawings: I

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of golf ball retriever constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the retriever with a portion of the handle broken away and showing the retriever tube poised preparatory to capture of a golf ball resting upon hard terrain;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the retriever as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the retriever tube effectively seated upon the ball immediately prior to capture of the latter by the tube;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the ball entering the retriever tube;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the ball fully captured Within the tube;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the ball supported within the tube;

FIG. .8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the retriever tube poised preparatory to capture of a golf ball resting upon soft terrain and by a scooping action; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the retriever employed for a shagging operation upon a golf ball.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, a golf ball retriever constructed according to the present invention has been designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10. Such retriever involves in its general organization a handle 12 having a grip portion 13 and including telescopically arranged sections'14, 16 and 18, the innermost or forward section having its forward end crimped as at 20 about the looped attachment finger 22 of a wire bail 24. The bail is provided with curved bail arms 26 having inturned ends 28 which extend into a pair of diametrically opposite holes 29 in the medial regions of the wall of a cylindrical retriever tube 30.

The tube 30 is open-ended, and in the position in which it is shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, inclusive, the upper rim or open or free end 31 of the tube is provided with a pair 3 of diametrically opposite detent indentations 32 which are in alignment with the holes 29. The tube 30 is freely pivoted to the bail by reason of the inturned ends 28 and the holes 29, such free pivotal movement being restricted, however, as the plane of the bail moves into Coincidence with an axial plane of the tube immediately prior to snapping of the bail' arms into the detent indentations 32 as shown in FIG. 9, this restriction being effective upon swinging of the bail in either direction. With the bail arms in register with the detent indentations 32, the tube 30 is maintained in axial alignment with the handle 12. Still referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, the lower rim or end 34 of the tube 30 has fitted thereover a resilient ferrule 36 which is generally of L-shape in radial cross section. This ferrule embodies a cylindrical wall 38 and, in addition, an inturned highly flexible ball-retaining lip 40. which is of short radial extent and in the free con-' dition of the ferrule is generally frusto conical and has a wide slant angle and short slant height, as best seen in FIG. 4. The ferrule 36 may be formed of any suitable flexible material, as, for example, an elastomeric material such as rubber, either natural or synthetic, or arubber substitute. Various flexible plastic materials also are contemplated for the ferrule 36. In radial cross section, the inturned lips 40 of the ferrule tapers inwardly into a feathered edge 42 for a purpose that will be made clear presently. The internal diameter of the cylindrical wall 38 of the ferrule 36 is slightly less than the external diameter of the tube 30 so that this wall may be stretched and fitted over the lower rim 34 in telescopic fashion with a tight frictional fit to the end that the ferrule may be removed for replacement purposes when desired. The minimum internal diameter of the ferrule, i.e., the

51 as shown in FIG. 6, it will seat squarely upon the terrain, regardless ofthe particular angular position it assumes when initially engaging the terrain. At this time, the ball will have cleared the ferrule as shown in this view. Upon elevation of the tube 30, the ball will again engage the inturned lip 44? of the ferrule and flex the same to the substantially horizontal planar condition in which it is shown in FIG. 7. The lip 40, in this position, has sufiicient resistance to support the ball within the tube 30. Since the weight of the ball B is now applied to the tube at the lower rim region thereof, the tube will assume a position wherein its axis extends vertically and thus the tube St) with its captured ball B may be pulled to the vicinity of the operator who may push the ball 7 from the tube through either end thereof.

If the ball B rests upon soft terrain, as, for example, the terrain 52 (see FIG. 8) which may be muddy terrain or the soft bottom of a body of water, it may be found 1 expedient to retrieve the ball by a scooping action. Ac-

diameter of the opening afforded by the circular feathered edge 42 of the inturned lip 40, is slightly less than the diameter of a standard golf ball sothat such a'ball may be caused to enter the tube through the lower end there-' of by an upward displacement of the ferrule lip 49, as

shown in FIG. 5, and. also so that after the ball has thus entered the tube, the lip 40 may, upon being restored to its normal position, support the ball as shown in FIG. 7.

In actual use, the golf ball retriever is capable of selective multi-fold application. By adjustment in one way, it is capable of use either as a scoop or as a gripper; by adjustment in another way, it is capable of use as a shag, as will now be described in greater detail.

When a golf ball B resting on hard terrain, such as the terrain designed at 56 in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 7, inclusive, is to be retrieved, the handle 12 may be. extended if necessary to the required length of over-all reach, and utilizing the grip portion 13 thereof for manipulative purposes, the tube is caused to be vertically poised over the ball B as shown in FIG. 2. The region of pivotal connection between the bail 24- and the tube 30 is somewhat above the axial center of the tube and, consequently, the tube as a whole possesses a degree of stable equilibrium in any angular position thereof. However, if for any reason, such as looseness in the pivotal connection between the bail and the tube and the adherence of unbalancing dirt or mud to the tube, the tube is unstable and tends to assume a position of unbalance so that the same is tilted in one direction or another, as shown in dotted and broken lines respectively in FIG. 2, the tilted tube and ferrule assembly may be moved into contact with the ball by causing the ferrule 36 to seat in cocked fashion on the ball as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. If the tube 30 is not so tilted, the ferrule will be seated upon the ball as shown in full lines in FIG. 5. In either event, downward pressure or force exerted upon the tube 30 through the medium of the handle 12 will cause the ferrule 36 to snap over the ball, the inturned feathered lip of the ferrule yielding, as shown in FIG. 5, as the ball passes through the ferrule. When the ferrule moves downward to such an extent that it engages the terrain cordingly, by manipulating the handle 12 so that the free end or rim 31 of the tube St is in horizontal alignment with the ball B, as shown in this view, the ball may be scooped into the tube through this end by a sudden movement of the tube toward and into engagement with the hall. The resistance of the ferrule lip 40 will prevent the ball from passing completely through the tube as descriped in connection with the disclosure of FIG. 7. After the ball has thus been snared into the tube 30, elevation of the latter will cause the tube to assume the vertical position wherein it is shown in FIG. 7 due to the balancing forces acting upon the tube and its contents.

When the ball retriever 10 is employed for shagging a ball from a cup in a golf course green, such as the cup illustrated in FIG. 9 and designated by the reference numeral 68, the bail arms 26 (see FIG. 3) are manipulated and caused to enter the detent depressions 28 so that the tube will become fixed relatively to the handle 7 with the axis thereof in alignment with the axis of the handle. With the parts in this position, the handle 12 may be held vertically and the tube lowered vertically into the cup 69 until the ferrule 36 seats upon the ball. Thereafter, continued downward movement of the tube and ferrule will capture the ball in the manner previously described in connection with FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. Upon elevation of the'tube with the captured ball therein, the inturned lip 45 of the ferrule 36 will support the ball as previously described.

The ball-retrieving situations described above are merely exemplary and other situations too numerous to men tion may be encountered. The present golf ball retriever may be efficiently employed for ball-retrieving purposes. A golf ball lodged on an incline or in a crevice, a ball resting on soft mud or silt at the bottom of a body of water, or a ball which has fallen in sand are only a few examples of conditions wherein the ball may be satisfactorily retrieved by use of the present retriever. In each instance, the ingenuity of the operator will assist him in determining the best mode of manipulation of the retriever for most efiicient and rapid retrieving of the ball.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A golf ball retriever comprising an elongated handle, a bail having a pair of bail arms and a connecting bight portion, means securing said bight portion to one end of the handle, an open-ended cylindrical thin-walled tube pivoted at diametrically opposed regions to the bail arms for continuous end-over-end swinging movements in either direction within the bail confines and about an axis transversely of the handle, the internal diameter of the tube being slightly greater than the diameter of a standard golf ball to be retrieved, an elastomeric ferrule of ringlike design having a cylindrical wall telescopically received over one end of the tube, the other end of the tube being provided with a pair of diametrically opposed detent depressions adapted to receive the bail arms therein for releasably maintaining the tube and handle in coaxial relationship, the cylindrical wall of said ferrule being provided with a continuous inturned flexible annular lip which overhangs the adjacent rim of the tube and projects radially inwardly of the tube confines a short distance, said lip being tapered to a feather edge and normally presenting an internal circular opening therethrough of less diameter than the diameter of said golf ball to be retrieved, said lip being adapted to be displaced inwardly of the tube during passage of a goif ball into the tube through one end thereof to allow the ball to enter the tube, said lip having a sufiicient degree of rigidity to support the weight of the ball thereon when the axis of the tube is vertical and the ferrule is disposed remote from the handle, the regions of pivotal connec- 6 tion between the tube and bail arms being closer to said other end of the tube than to said one end thereof, whereby the tube possesses a degree of unstable equilibrium when the tube axis is other than vertical.

2. A golf ball retriever as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said handle comprises a series of tubular telescopically arranged frictionally engaged handle sections including an innermost forward section, said bight portion of the bail being provided with an outwardly extending looped attachment finger, the forward end of said innermost forward handle section being telescopically received over said looped attachment finger and being fixedly crimped therearound.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 66,798 Collins July 16, 1867 1,219,402 Rutan Mar. 13, 1917 2,760,807 Watson Aug. 28, 1956 2,810,252 Kelly Oct. 22, 1957 3,029,097 Ward Apr. 10, 1962 

1. A GOLF BALL RETRIEVER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HANDLE, A BAIL HAVING A PAIR OF BAIL ARMS AND A CONNECTING BIGHT PORTION, MEANS SECURING SAID BIGHT PORTION TO ONE END OF THE HANDLE, AN OPEN-ENDED CYLINDRICAL THIN-WALLED TUBE PIVOTED AT DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED REGIONS TO THE BAIL ARMS FOR CONTINUOUS END-OVER-END SWINGING MOVEMENTS IN EITHER DIRECTION WITHIN THE BAIL CONFINES AND ABOUT AN AXIS TRANSVERSELY OF THE HANDLE, THE INTERNAL DIAMETER OF THE TUBE BEING SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF A STANDARD GOLF BALL TO BE RETRIEVED, AN ELASTOMERIC FERRULE OF RINGLIKE DESIGN HAVING A CYLINDRICAL WALL TELESCOPICALLY RECEIVED OVER ONE END OF THE TUBE, THE OTHER END OF THE TUBE BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED DETENT DEPRESSIONS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE BAIL ARMS THEREIN FOR RELEASABLY MAINTAINING THE TUBE AND HANDLE IN COAXIAL RELATIONSHIP, THE CYLINDRICAL WALL OF SAID FERRULE BEING PROVIDED WITH A CONTINUOUS INTURNED FLEXIBLE ANNULAR LIP WHICH OVERHANGS THE ADJACENT RIM OF THE TUBE AND PROJECTS RADIALLY INWARDLY OF THE TUBE CONFINES A SHORT DISTANCE, SAID LIP BEING TAPERED TO A FEATHER EDGE AND NORMALLY PRESENTING AN INTERNAL CIRCULAR OPENING THERETHROUGH OF LESS DIAMETER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID GOLF BALL TO BE RETRIEVED, SAID LIP BEING ADAPTED TO BE DISPLACED INWARDLY OF THE TUBE DURING PASSAGE OF A GOLF BALL INTO THE TUBE THROUGH ONE END THEREOF TO ALLOW THE BALL TO ENTER THE TUBE, SAID LIP HAVING A SUFFICIENT DEGREE OF RIGIDITY TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE BALL THEREON WHEN THE AXIS OF THE TUBE IS VERTICAL AND THE FERRULE IS DISPOSED REMOTE FROM THE HANDLE, THE REGIONS OF PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TUBE AND BAIL ARMS BEING CLOSER TO SAID OTHER END OF THE TUBE THAN TO SAID ONE END THEREOF, WHEREBY THE TUBE POSSESSES A DEGREE OF UNSTABLE EQUILIBRIUM WHEN THE TUBE AXIS IS OTHER THAN VERTICAL. 